MLP: A Journey's End
Chapter 12 - Missing a Friend
Author's Note: "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" belongs to DHX Media and Hasbro, while Stardust Balance belongs to the Warrior of Twilight. I just own the stor-
[SB] Hey, wait a second! How come none of my theme songs are in this story?
[Me] For the umpteenth time, Star, it's because this is my story, and not "A Journey Beyond Sanity"... anyway, enjoy the chapter, everyone!
[SB] I'm getting paid for this, right?
A few hours after Twilight told everyone about her way of saving Sunset, the group of friends continued on their quest back to Canterlot.
"You mean that Omega wasn't wearing his mask when you saw him? What did he look like?"
Sunset gave her alicorn friend a small shrug, and she replied, "I don't remember… it was like, for a moment, he couldn't bear to see what Elixir would do, and… it's all just so confusing."
As for Stardust, he was continuing to think about Casey, and found himself having a flashback to when they'd been spending some quality time together prior to the day of their race.
"So you haven't gone through any sort of side-effects since we became Starcade?"
Stardust shook his head, and replied, "Nope, not really."
The two friends were currently inside Stardust's room, and he was introducing Casey to the joy and wonder of playing video-games, but it was taking him a while to get the hang of it.
"Well, can I ask you something else?"
Setting down the controller, Stardust took a quick sip from a Coke bottle, and he said, "Be my guest, pal…"
Casey took a moment to think of what his words would be exactly.
"Why are we still friends?"
A confused Stardust began to frown, and he replied, "What do you mean by that?"
"Well… I mean, look at what's happened ever since the day that we met," explained the orange-yellow Earth pony. "Rowan tried to permanently erase all of your alternate selves from existince… he even went back in time to a certain day in your past to kill you!
"Plus, because of all that world-traveling we did, it caused the Equestria Girls version of you to come into your world, and pretty much screw up your life so that he could take it from you… I mean, you could have just-"
Suddenly, he stopped talking after seeing that Stardust had raised his hoof, and the gold-colored pony said, "Just relax for a moment, Casey… now, believe it or not, being your friend was not exactly my first choice-"
"No, I believe it," replied the young pony, and he tapped the side of his skull. "I do have some of you in me, remember?"
"For the time being, yes, but what I meant was that it took two certain ponies to actually convince me to try and be your friend that day I returned your necklace."
When Casey asked him who they were, Stardust chuckled, and said, "Well, let me tell you what happened before I went to your world…"
[Flashback - takes place in "A Race Against Time"]
After making some final adjustments to the Crystal Mirror time machine, Twilight looked at her special somepony, and said, "Okay, Jack, it's ready for you!"
However, to her non-surprise, Stardust was shaking his head. "No, no, no… I have done enough traveling through time and space, love, and I am not making an occasion for just a regular pony."
Twilight rolled her eyes, and she replied, "Come on, Jack, you know it's the right thing to do… plus, it's always fun to make a new friend, so-"
"Say what?" interrupted a surprised Stardust. "Who said I was gonna be his friend? All that needs to be done is to return him his necklace… nothing else."
But Twilight was not going to give up so easily. "Just give him a chance, Jack… he seemed like a really nice pony."
"You're just saying that because he saw you first," muttered the stubborn pony.
I don't see any problem with this.
"Oh, not you, too, Starswirl," said a slightly-annoyed Stardust. "Why is being his friend so important?"
Because Twilight and I have encouraged you to make new friendships… and yes, although it appears that Casey comes from a parallel version of Equestria, there's no reason why he doesn't deserve a chance.
Before Stardust could continue arguing with him, Twilight handed him the turtle-dove necklace that belonged to Casey, and a warm smile was on her face.
"I… this… why… oh, fine," said Stardust, letting out a sigh. "But if I find one thing that I don't like about him, love, I am going to come straight back here, and never visit his world again… okay?"
"Yes, Jack, I understand… now, go on," replied Twilight, who actually had a pretty good feeling about this.
Unable to think of anything else to say, Stardust nodded his head, and stepped through the Crystal Mirror.
Whoosh!
A few seconds later, he was lying on the ground, and he muttered, "I'm never going to get used to that."
Once the feeling of dizziness went away, Stardust found himself looking at the owner of the necklace that was in his hoof.
"Ah, hello again, Casey… I believe that this necklace belongs to you."
[End of flashback]
For some reason, Stardust now had his hoof on his forehead, and Casey asked, "You okay?"
"Yeah, I just… it felt like I was having an 'Inception' moment right now."
Casey just gave him a confused look.
"It's when you dream in a dream that has you dreaming… eh, never mind, not important," replied Stardust, shaking his head a little before he continued to give his explanation.
"Now, yes, even though I would prefer not to die almost every damn day of the week, I'm used to stuff like this happening… besides, if spending time with you gets me away from having to be in Sunset's world-"
Casey started to laugh, and said, "You seriously do not like being there, do you?"
Stardust looked at his friend, and replied, "I enjoy that world as much as one would enjoy gargling a box of nails."
"Oh…" said Casey. "Wow… no wonder your other self wanted to kill you."
After noticing how quiet her special somepony was being right now, Twilight asked, "Are you thinking about him?"
"Yeah…" replied Stardust, letting out a sigh, and he had a look of regret on his face. "I never should have argued with him in the first place."
[Canterlot]
"I am assuming that you have good news for me, Ronxor?" asked Elixir, as he sat on Celestia's throne.
The silver Pegasus did a nervous gulp, and he replied, "Well, um… not exactly, sire."
Elixir's smile went away, and he raised an eyebrow at his long-time companion. "Oh? What's wrong, then?"
"Well, um… it appears that Twilight and her friends were able to get past the bird, and Sunset has yet to return… so I fear that they'll be arriving here very soon."
After Ronxor finished his sentence, Elixir remained silent, and then, to his suprise, the dark-colored pony started laughing.
"Um… I don't quite see the humor in this, sire."
Elixir's smile returned, and he shook his head, saying, "This is nothing to be worried about, Ronxor… Twilight Sparkle is just a princess, she and her friends are powerless against me, and there's nopony else in this world that is going to stop me!"
Inside of his room, an unmasked Omega was looking at the two objects that were on his desk.
One of them was a turtle-dove necklace, and the other one was Applejack's hat.
"That's right, Stardust," growled the cloaked pony. "Try and be the hero that you think you are…"
ZZZZZZZZTTTTTT!
Blue electricity started to fly all across the room, and a sinister smile appeared on his face.
"You think you know me? Well, then… I guess we'll find out soon enough."
